I loved being a CNA. If it had paid better I probably wouldn't have hurried myself through nursing school. It is very satisfying to make sure your patients are clean and comfortable.

Aug 6

I very clearly remember thinking, "I could do this the rest of my life and be perfectly happy" when I was a nurse's aide in a residential home for the developmentally-delayed. Of course, I was 20 years old and still living at home--ie, had no bills to pay. CNAs don't make enough for all the stuff they have to do and put up with. Still, they come to work, and I couldn't do my job without them. Nothing beats a good CNA.

Aug 7

Chryssy you couldn't afford to live on your own working as a CNA? I was hoping I would be able.

Chryssy you couldn't afford to live on your own working as a CNA? I was hoping I would be able.

It just depends on where you work as to pay. LTCs just in my county range anywhere from $11-15 starting out.

Aug 8

I like being a CNA in the hospital. I work nights so sometimes the nurses let me help with stuff I didn't get to see in clinicals. I wish I had gotten my job earlier since I will only have been there a year before I graduate nursing school. I do only get paid about $11.50ish base pay and $1 for working nights and the highest our hospital pays CNAs is about $14 I believe. We only get about a $0.10 raise a year. I'm not one that's big on money though. Still live at home, so I have no bills of my own.

Aug 8

I absolutely loved being a CNA. I found it very satisfying. I loved getting people clean and comfortable. I loved running around and being busy the whole time.

If it had paid better, I would have never become a nurse. I always said, "The aides get the fun part of patient care". That was just my opinion.

I was able to live on my own with no debt when I was an aide, but I was very very frugal. That was a loooong time ago, though. However, my concern was always the "what if's", so when I had the opportunity to become a nurse, I took it.

I was an aide for about 23 years. I wouldn't have done for so long had I disliked it. I am very proud of the good work I did.

Aug 8

[My apologies in advance - I am not talking down about all CNAs in the following comment; there are some wonderful folks out there who pour their heart and soul into their work, but there's also some bad apples that don't care and are just in it for the paycheck. I understand that these types are everywhere, but I've been unfortunate in my experiences as a CNA, and seen a disproportionately large amount of them haha Stay awesome, everyone <3 ]

Hihi OP!
For the most part I love being a CNA, but what I dislike is the lack of professionalism that I've run in to - this varies on the facility (and maybe even region), but in some facilities things like no-shows, high CNA turnover, poor attitudes etc just really bummed me out. Poor behaviors seem to be tolerated much less in hospitals, though the pay is also higher there generally.

In my city as a CNA I've made as little as $9hr, and as much as $16/hr - I could have survived on my wages without help, but I'd be cutting it extremely fine, and I wouldn't be able to live in the safer apartments that I do now if I was making $9/hr. I'd also be forced to pick up extra shifts out the wazoo to make ends meet, but it really depends on the cost of living in your place of residence.

Now for the actual jobstuffs - It really depends on where you work! My $9/hr LTC/rehab was absolutely miserable - I'd be often left with 20+ patients due to staff call outs, people deciding that they needed 2hr lunch breaks, or they'd just outright hide all shift and ignore their lights.

$11/hr facility - getting better; some call outs, staff were better for the most part. Patients were happier due to being able to receive quality care (and happy patients really does make the work smoother!)

$16/hr - hospital! Hectic sometimes (though isn't CNA work always? haha); patients generally rotated in/out pretty quick which was nice, though I did enjoy bonding with folks in LTC. Scope of practice is generally a bit bigger here (some CNAs may be able to do minor oral suction if pt is unable to clear some saliva, accucheck, vitals etc). I definitely preferred working in the hospital, but it's somewhere I've always wanted to be.

Overall - being a CNA is really what you make of it; it's a fantastic job, often thankless, but you have the chance to touch so many peoples' lives. It was genuinely heart-warming to come in to work and see that your residents were excited as heck because you were going to be there for the next 8~12hrs. It can be a bit of a drag depending on the facility you work at, but CNAs are often in high demand so make sure that if you're not gelling with your current place, start looking for another that will suit you!

[Sorry for my ramble, congrats if you guys made it this far... haha]

Aug 9

My first job as a nurses aide in a nursing home was what made me want to become a nurse.
You'll like it if you get a lot of satisfaction from taking care of people.
Go for a hospital position though, better pay and benefits.

[My apologies in advance - I am not talking down about all CNAs in the following comment; there are some wonderful folks out there who pour their heart and soul into their work, but there's also some bad apples that don't care and are just in it for the paycheck. I understand that these types are everywhere, but I've been unfortunate in my experiences as a CNA, and seen a disproportionately large amount of them haha Stay awesome, everyone <3 ]

Hihi OP!
For the most part I love being a CNA, but what I dislike is the lack of professionalism that I've run in to - this varies on the facility (and maybe even region), but in some facilities things like no-shows, high CNA turnover, poor attitudes etc just really bummed me out. Poor behaviors seem to be tolerated much less in hospitals, though the pay is also higher there generally.

In my city as a CNA I've made as little as $9hr, and as much as $16/hr - I could have survived on my wages without help, but I'd be cutting it extremely fine, and I wouldn't be able to live in the safer apartments that I do now if I was making $9/hr. I'd also be forced to pick up extra shifts out the wazoo to make ends meet, but it really depends on the cost of living in your place of residence.

Now for the actual jobstuffs - It really depends on where you work! My $9/hr LTC/rehab was absolutely miserable - I'd be often left with 20+ patients due to staff call outs, people deciding that they needed 2hr lunch breaks, or they'd just outright hide all shift and ignore their lights.

$11/hr facility - getting better; some call outs, staff were better for the most part. Patients were happier due to being able to receive quality care (and happy patients really does make the work smoother!)

$16/hr - hospital! Hectic sometimes (though isn't CNA work always? haha); patients generally rotated in/out pretty quick which was nice, though I did enjoy bonding with folks in LTC. Scope of practice is generally a bit bigger here (some CNAs may be able to do minor oral suction if pt is unable to clear some saliva, accucheck, vitals etc). I definitely preferred working in the hospital, but it's somewhere I've always wanted to be.

Overall - being a CNA is really what you make of it; it's a fantastic job, often thankless, but you have the chance to touch so many peoples' lives. It was genuinely heart-warming to come in to work and see that your residents were excited as heck because you were going to be there for the next 8~12hrs. It can be a bit of a drag depending on the facility you work at, but CNAs are often in high demand so make sure that if you're not gelling with your current place, start looking for another that will suit you!

[Sorry for my ramble, congrats if you guys made it this far... haha]

Sounds soo much like my position right now. We get soo many no call no shows at our facility. It's rough cause it strains the staff. Have to run to different houses taking care of unfamiliar patients and having to scramble to get them their meds, toileting and etc. it is hard work and often very thankless. At the end of the day though I realize that patients actually need your help and that is very satisfying. Some of them really enjoy seeing you which is actually really cool. It's a great job but it will challenge you mentally and physically to keep on coming to work. Especially if you have those really needy and rude patients (those can be the fun ones). Best of luck.

Sounds soo much like my position right now. We get soo many no call no shows at our facility. It's rough cause it strains the staff. Have to run to different houses taking care of unfamiliar patients and having to scramble to get them their meds, toileting and etc. it is hard work and often very thankless. At the end of the day though I realize that patients actually need your help and that is very satisfying. Some of them really enjoy seeing you which is actually really cool. It's a great job but it will challenge you mentally and physically to keep on coming to work. Especially if you have those really needy and rude patients (those can be the fun ones). Best of luck.

Haha no kidding - I love my work, but sometimes its the staff that makes it so unbearable. Give me difficult pts all day and I won't bat an eye; but if we get 2 no shows on a 5 CNA team (with no cover!) and I'm going to be a sad panda.